Dental apparatus



July 5, 1966 BEACH 3,259,430

DENTAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 21, 1964 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 9 mm. m1 T'T'fi INVENTOR DARYL RAYMONDBEACH BY #dflw/M flttarneys July 5, 1966 D. R. BEACH 3,259,430

DENTAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 21. 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE NTOR DARYL RAYMOND BEACH BY w+wm Attorney;

D. R. BEACH DENTAL APPARATUS July 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 21. 1964 INVENTOR DARYL RAYMOND BEACH United States Patent 3,259,430 DENTAL APPARATUS Daryl Raymond Beach, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan, assignor to Kabushiki Kaislta Morita Seisakusho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Get. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 405,541 Claims priority, application Japan, Dec. 10, 1963, Pitt/66,790 2 Qlaims. (Cl. 297194) This invention relates to a dental apparatus comprising a dental chair and various dental instruments, implements, appliances, devices and mechanisms built into the chair housing for use in the practice of dentistry.

Conventional dental apparatus of the type generally comprises a chair for a patient to be seated in and a dental equipment unit. The chair and the unit are separately located, so that the whole apparatus becomes bulky, occupying a larger floor space. Since the equipment unit is provided with various dental instruments and devices such as syringes and a spittoon which the dentist or patient uses during the various aspects of dental treatment, the unit must be located adjacent to the chair so as to obstruct free performance of the dentist. When an instrument is taken out of the unit for use in treatment, the hose following it is drawn out to extend from the unit as far as the mouth of the patient undergoing the treatment. This will prevent easy and smooth manipulation of the instrument.

The primary object of the invention is, therefore, to place the dental instruments as close to the patients mouth as possible in any position the patient assumes and to arrange the various mechanisms completely within the confine of the chair to prevent body interference from the dentist, assistant or patient.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in a different operative position;

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the chair seat, showing the interior mechanism thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the chair back with its front wall taken away to show the interior mechanism thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line XX in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of part of the shoulder of the chair back, illustrating the means for preventing the retraction of a hoze connected to an instrument;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the headrest partly broken to show the instrument-holding means installed therein;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the chair showing the mounting means for the basin; and

FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view of FIG. 8.

Referring now in detail first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention comprises a base 2, a seat 3 mounted thereon, a back 4 connected to the seat and a headrest 5 attached to the top of the chair back. The seat 3 is vertically movable relative to the base by any suitable means such as oil-pressure mechanism.

To do this, the base 2 is composed of two hollow cylindrical parts 2 and 2", the upper part 2 of which has its upper end fixed to the under surface of the chair seat 3 while the lower part 2 has its bottom fixed to the floor sunface. These two parts are arranged in telescopic relation to each other as best shown in FIG. 2. Various mechanisms necessary for operating the chair unit are ice enclosed within the confine of the base 2. The chair back 4 and the headrest 5 are so constructed as to be able to be freely inclined relative to the chair seat 3 and chair back 4, respectively.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, inside the chair seat 3 there is formed a space 6 which encloses an air valve 7, a device 8 for atomizing oil to be supplied to the rotary parts of air-turbine syringes, a water valve 9 which functions as a regulating valve, a variable resistor means 10 for regulating an electrical heater (not shown) which is enclosed in hoses connected to the syringes and which regulates the temperature of the water supplied through the hoses, a reduction valve I11 for regulating the pressure of the air jet for the syringes, a switchboard 12 for controlling the electrical circuits for operating the various instruments and devices installed in the chair seat and thereabove, and an oil-pressure mechanism 13 with its operating rod 14. Dials .1 5 and 16 for adjusting the air valve 7 and the water valve 9, respectively, a pressure meter 17, a switch 18 for the electrical circuits, an indicator lamp 19 which lights on upon closure of the electrical circuits and a watch window 20 for observing the amount of oil to be supplied to the oil-atomizer 8-all these members are provided on the outside of one side wall of the chair seat for easy observation and manipulation.

Turning to FIG. 4, inside the chair back 4 there is enclosed a mechanism for drawing in and out those supply hoses connected to the rear ends of the syringes and contra angle handpieces provided on the chair. The mechanism, generally designated 21, comprises a guide channel 23, a roller 24 whose axis 25 is mounted at one end of the channel 23, a resilient plate 26 fixed at one end 27 to the front or back wall 22 of the chair back, and another roller 28 whose axis 28' is mounted at the other free end of the resilient plate 26. A length of hose 29 having its one end connected to a suitable source of chemicals, air, water or the like, passes over the roller 28 and then the roller 24, and is drawn out of the chair back at its shoulder 30 so as to be connected to an instrument, say, syringe 31. There may be provided as many mechanisms for paying out and retracting the hoses as there are syringes and other instruments. In. this case, a plurality, say, two guide channels 23 and 23 may be superposed one upon another, as shown in FIG. 5. If such superposed arrangement does not suffice, as many such mechanisms as required may be added. In FIG. 4, for example, an additional one, generally designated 32, is shown enclosed in the chair back 4 and positioned adjacent to the mechanism 21. This additional mechanism 32 also comprises a resilient plate 33, rollers 34 and 35, and a guide channel 36, with a length of hose 37 connected to a contra angle handpiece 38 and passing over the rollers 35 and 36. The arrangement of these component members is similar to that of the mechanism 21 described just above, and will therefore need no further explanation.

When the instrument 31 is not in use, as shown in FIG. 4, the roller 28 is urged by the force of the resilient plate 26 into its normal position, that is, toward the end of the channel 23 opposite to where the roller 24 is positioned. Under the condition, the hose 29 is so tensioned that the instrument 31 is pulled up to the shoulder 30 of the chair back 4 to be securely held there. When the dentist takes the instrument 31 up from the shoulder of the chair back into different operative positions, the hose following it is drawn out against the force of the resilient plate 26. This causes the roller 28 to be moved within the channel 23 toward the roller 24 and the plate 26 to be bent or curved as shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4-. When the dentist relieves the pull on the hose in order to return the instrument to its original position on the shoulder of the chair back, the plate 26 brings the roller 28 back to its original normal position, simultaneously causing the drawn out hose to be drawn into the chair back 4. The same is true with the mechanism 32 and its associated instrument 38.

As will be easily seen, when the instrument 31 or 38 is pulled out of the chair back 4, the resiliency of the plate 26 or 33 will react to pull it-back. This will prevent smooth and easy handling of the instrument by the dentist. FIG. 6 shows means for preventing the hose drawn out from being unnecessarily drawn into the chair back 4. This means, generally indicated by 39, is provided in the shoulder 30 of the chair back 4 where the hose comes out therefrom. There is a bore 41 formed for the hose to pass through, and also a laterally extending recess or hole 41 in communication with the bore 40. Inside the lateral hole 41, there are provided a lever 42 pivoted at 43, a spring 44 urging the lever to rotate clockwise in the figure, and a push-button 45 having its upper end projecting above the level of the shoulder surface of the chair back and its lower end bearing against one end of the lever 42. The opposite end of the lever 42 is held against the side wall of the hose 29 to press it against the opposite inner wall 40 of the bore 40, thereby checking the retraction of the hose when drawn out. When the hose is to be released, the button 45 is pushed to tilt the lever 42 counterclockwise against the force of the spring 44, whereupon the lever 42 lets the hose free to be drawn in or out.

When not in use, the syringes and other instruments are held or supported in one or both shoulders of the chair back and/ or one or both sides of the headrest. In other words, the instruments are held in position at the top of the chair back, or behind or at one or both sides of the headrest, so that they are locatedlaterally to and immediately behind the head or neck of the patient seated in the chair. FIG. 7 shows, by way of example, means for holding the instruments in the above defined positions. This holding means comprises -as many holes 47 as there are instruments to be held, and in FIG. 7 two holes 46, 47 are shown by way of example. These holes are of such shape that the head portions of the corresponding instruments 48 and 49 may be fitted into the holes and stay therein through engagement with the inner wall thereof or any other suitable hooking members. When each of the instruments is to be returned to the holding means, the operator, holding it suitably inclined, may insert its head portion into the corresponding hole and then correct the inclination so as to make the head portion come into secure engagement with the inner wall of the hole.

In the prior art apparatus, the basin, which is neces sary for dental treatment, is mounted on an equipment unit separate from the chair, whereas in accordance with .the invention it is mounted on the chair, As shown in mains the same relative to the patient seated in the chai-r seat. The basin 52 is eccentrically mounted on the top of the support column 51 and is horizontally swingable toward and away from the patient seated in the chair. As seen in FIGURE 8 the basin 52 has a downwardly extending tubular member shown as a section of pipe 52" secured thereto.' The pipe 52 is disposed within and rotatable with respect to the support casing 52' secured to the tubular frame 50 and to the upper end of the drain pipe. Inside the column, there are enclosed a pipe for supplying water for the patient to gargle with, another pipe for supplying Water to wash the basin with and drain-pipe for waste water.

A dental tray and a shadeless lamp may be provided on a pole set up on the chair or floor or hanging on the wall. 011 the floor adjacent to the chair base, there may be provided a foot controller 53 for regulating the water supply, the raising and lowering of the chair seat, the inclination of the chair back, etc.

It is apparent that the invention has many advantages over similar prior art apparatus: In accordance with the invention, the various dental instruments to be manipulated by the dentist during different stages of dental treatment are always placed near the mouth or" the patient and at the same time within convenient reach of the dentist, regardless of his position and the inclination of the chair, and when any of the instruments is in use, only a small length of hose is drawn out. This enables easy manipulation of the instruments. Since the basin is mounted on the chair and just beside the patient seated in the chair and its height relative to the patient is always kept the same, regardless of the height of the seat relative to the floor, the patient will find it much easier to use the basin when he gargles or spits.

In addition, the apparatus of the invention has completely eliminated a conventional separate equipment unit or stand and arranged the various mechanisms completely within the confine of the chair so that it becomes very compact, pleasing in appearance and easy to operate, preventing body interference and contributing to free and efiicient performance of the dentist.

It should be recognized that the embodiment disclosed herein is merely representative and that further modifications and changes can be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Dental apparatus comprising: a chair comprising a base, a seat mounted on the base and vertically movable relative to the base, a back connected to the seat and inclinable relative to the seat and a headrest mounted on the back; dental instruments; means for holding the instruments, while not in use, on the chair; air and water supply means disposed in the interior of said chair and coupled with said instruments; at switchboard and control means for said air and water supply means enclosed by said seat for controlling the supply of water and air to said dental instruments; a tubular frame adjacent to said base; a column attached to one side of said chair seat and disposed in telescoping relationship with respect to said tubular frame; a basin supported on the top of said column; and piping means disposed in said frame and said column coupled with said basin for supplying and draining water.

2. Dental apparatus of claim 1, wherein said basin is eccentrically mounted for horizontal swinging movement toward and away from the patient seated in the chair.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 197,441 11/1877 Wilkerson 297-188 541,940 7/1895 Mayes 297-188 X 595,532 12/1897 Doyle 4-263 636,290 11/1899 Reynolds 4-263 1,049,290 12/1912 Clark 4-263 1,245,406 11/1917 Uhl 4-263 1,253,555 1/1918 Wolf 4-263 3,129,033 4/1964 Emmerson 297-194 3,198,574 8/1965 Ota et al 297-191 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. DENTAL APPARATUS COMPRISING: A CHAIR COMPRISING A BASE, A SEAT MOUNTED ON THE BASE AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE BASE, A BACK CONNECTED TO THE SEAT AND INCLINABLE RELATIVE TO THE SEAT AND A HEADREST MOUNTED ON THE BACK; DENTAL INSTRUMENTS; MEANS FOR HOLDING THE INSTRUMENTS, WHILE NOT IN USE, ON THE CHAIR; AIR AND WATER SUPPLY MEANS DISPOSED IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAIR AND COUPLED WITH SAID INSTRUMENTS; A SWITCHBOARD AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID AIR AND WATER SUPPLY MEANS ENCLOSED BY SAID SEAT FOR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND AIR TO SAID DENTAL INSTRUMENTS; A TUBULAR FRAME ADJACENT TO SAID BASE; A COLUMN ATTACHED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID CHAIR SEAT AND DIS- 